The thing with feathers. Choreography Demis Volpi. Photo Kiran West
Epilog. Choreography John Neumeier. Photo Kiran West
Adagio. Choreography Pina Bausch. Photo Kiran West
The thing with feathers. Choreography Demis Volpi. Photo Kiran West
Epilog. Choreography John Neumeier. Photo Kiran West
Adagio. Choreography Pina Bausch. Photo Kiran West
From the 2024-2025 season, Demis Volpi will be the new ballet director at the helm of the Hamburg Ballet after 51 years of John Neumeier leading the Hamburg company to world fame. In his works, he combined the tradition of classical ballet with modern, contemporary forms, creating an unmistakable choreographic language. The company can look back on well over 1000 guest performances on five continents.
In August 2024, the German-Argentinean choreographer Demis Volpi succeeded Neumeier as Artistic Director of the Hamburg Ballet and Director of the Hamburg Ballet School. Demis Volpi was Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer of the Ballett am Rhein from 2020 to 2024 and delighted audiences there with a varied repertoire of narrative ballets and multi-part evenings as well as numerous new creations. As the new artistic director, he will offer audiences and the company new artistic impulses, present choreographers with different dance perspectives and at the same time keep the tradition and impressive range of John Neumeier's work alive. In addition, the art form of dance is made accessible and tangible for everyone beyond the stage through the establishment of new mediation formats.
On the ensemble’s history
Hamburg is a city of dance! And it has a long tradition. The first mentions go back to the year 1765. As early as 1963, the world's leading ensembles, the New York City Ballet and the London Royal Ballet, were performing at the Hamburg State Opera. Ten years later, in 1973, the appointment of the 34-year-old John Neumeier as director marked the beginning of a unique ballet history: Neumeier led the Hamburg company for 51 years, later also as artistic director, bringing it to world fame and making it what it is today: the internationally renowned Hamburg Ballet. From August 2024, Demis Volpi will be the new ballet director at the helm of the 63-strong ensemble. The Hamburg Ballet is inextricably linked to John Neumeier's rich repertoire of choreographies, which often deal with literary, historical or religious themes. The ensemble has become famous far beyond the borders of the Hanseatic city through its numerous guest performances, which have made it Germany's flagship ballet company.
In his first year as artistic director, Demis Volpi is opening up the repertoire and presenting the choreographic languages of Pina Bausch, Aszure Barton, William Forsythe and Justin Peck with works that have not yet been shown in Hamburg. Two of Volpi's own works are also on the programme for the first time.
In the 2024-25 season, the Hamburg Ballet will present 94 performances on the stage of the Hamburg State Opera. There will also be guest performances in Baden-Baden, Salzburg, Venice and Beijing, China. The tradition of ballet workshops, which gives audiences a fascinating insight into the creative and rehearsal work of a ballet ensemble, will continue under Demis Volpi. The current season sees the 50th anniversary of the Ballet Days and with it the 50th edition of the Nijinsky Gala, which presents internationally acclaimed stars alongside the Hamburg ensemble.
“As Artistic Director of the Hamburg Ballet, I am looking forward to offering the audience and the company new artistic impulses, presenting choreographers with different dance perspectives and at the same time keeping the tradition and impressive range of John Neumeier's work alive. This historically unique artistic change after 51 years will be a process that means a change for the company, staff and audience. It is important to me to give us all time for this, while at the same time developing and establishing new things. I see my first season as a tribute to the past, a celebration of the present and an exciting glimpse into the future. I invite you to be part of this exciting journey and experience this prologue together.”
Demis Volpi
Productions from the 2019/2020 season
Premieres:
The Glass Menagerie (2019)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Philip Glass, Charles Ives
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
The Winter's Tale (2014)
Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon
Music: Joby Talbot
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 170 Min.
Revivals:
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1977)
Choreography: John Neumeier based on William Shakespeare
Music: F. M. Bartholdy, György Ligeti, traditional mechanical music
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 150 Min.
Hamlet (1997)
Choreography: John Neumeier based on Saxo Grammaticus and William Shakespeare
Music: Michael Tippett
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 165 Min.
Repertoire:
Bernstein Dances (1998)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Leonard Bernstein
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 150 Min.
Shakespeare – Sonnets (2019)
Choreography: Marc Jubete, Aleix Martínez, Edvin Revazov
Music: David Lang, Claudio Monteverdi, Henry Purcell, Jordi Savall, et al.
Music from tape
Duration: 165 Min.
The Song of the Earth (2015)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Gustav Mahler
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 90 Min.
Beethoven Project (2018)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: L. van Beethoven
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 165 Min.
All Our Yesterdays (1989)
Soldier Songs (Des Knaben Wunderhorn) / The Fifth Symphony of Gustav Mahler
Choreographies: John Neumeier
Music: Gustav Mahler
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 165 Min.
The Nutcracker (1974)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 150 Min.
Christmas Oratorio I-VI (2013)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: J. S. Bach
The Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 195 Min.
Orphée et Eurydice (2017)
Staging, Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Christoph Willibald Gluck
The Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 150 Min.
Saint Matthew Passion (1981)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Music from tape
Duration: 240 Min.
Brahms/Balanchine
Liebeslieder Walzer (1960) / Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (1966)
Choreographies: George Balanchine
Music: Johannes Brahms, Arnold Schönberg
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 135 Min.
Illusions – like Swan Lake (1976)
Choreography: John Neumeier after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky
Symphoniker Hamburg
Duration: 170 Min.
Anna Karenina (2017)
Choreography: John Neumeier, inspired by Leo Tolstoy
Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky, Alfred Schnittke, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 180 Min.
First Steps (2020)
School of the Hamburg Ballet
Choreographies: John Neumeier, Teachers School of the Hamburg Ballet
The Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
Duration: 180 Min.
Productions from the 2017/2018 season
Premiers
Don Quixote (2018)
Choreography Rudolf Nurejew based on Marius Petipa, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 125 min.
Beethoven-Projekt (2018)
Choreography John Neumeier, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Resumptions
Chopin Dances (2017):
Dances at a Gathering
Choreography Jerome Robbins, music Frédéric Chopin, Pianist Michal Bialk
The Concert
Choreography Jerome Robbins, music Frédéric Chopin, Pianist Michal Bialk, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 95 min.
Illusionen – wie Schwanensee (2018)
Choreography John Neumeier based on Marius Petipa und Lew Ivanow, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 150 min.
Anna Karenina (2017)
Choreography John Neumeier, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 155 min.
Matthäus Passion (1981)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Tonträger
Duration 215 min.
Duse (2015)
Choreografische Phantasien über Eleonora Duse
Choreography John Neumeier, music Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 140 min.
Die kleine Meerjungfrau (2007)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Lera Auerbach, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 125 min.
Turangalîla (2016)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Olivier Messiaen, Ondes Martenot von Valérie Hartmann-Claverie, Orchester Philharmonisches Staatsorchester, Klavier Yejin Gil
Duration: 90 Min.
Weihnachtsoratorium I-VI (2013)
Choreography John Neumeier, music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Chor der Hamburgischen Staatsoper, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 170 Min.
Der Nussknacker (1974)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Peter I. Tschaikowsky, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 125 Min.
Die Möwe (2002)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Dmitri Schostakowitsch, Evelyn Glennie,
Peter I. Tschaikowsky, Alexandre Skrjabin, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 125 Min.
Die Kameliendame (1981)
Choreography John Neumeier based on dem Roman von Alexandre Dumas d. J., music Frédéric Chopin, Symphoniker Hamburg / Philharmonisches Staatsorchester (3., 11. Mai)
Duration 135 Min.
Nijinsky (2017)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann,
Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakow, Dmitri Schostakowitsch, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 140 Min.
Das Lied von der Erde (2016)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Gustav Mahler, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 85 Min.
Das Lied von der Erde (2016)
Choreography John Neumeier, music Gustav Mahler, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
Duration 85 Min
Productions from the 2016/2017 season
The Song of the Earth (2016)
Choreography John Neumeier
Music: G. Mahler
Philarmonic State Orchestra
85 Min.
30 dancers
Anna Karenina (2017)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: P. I. Tschaikowsky, Alfred Schnittke
Philarmonic State Orchestra
Nijinsky (2007)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: F. Chopin, R. Schumann,
N. Rimskij-Korsakow, D. Schostakowitsch
Philarmonic State Orchestra
140 Min.
64 dancers
The Seagull (2002)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: D. Schostakowitsch, E. Glennie,
P. I. Tschaikowsky, A. Skrjabin
Philarmonic State Orchestra
125 Min.
38 dancers
Turangalîla (2016)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: O. Messiaen
Philarmonic State Orchestra
90 Min.
41 dancers
Romeo and Juliet (1974)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: S. Prokofjew
Philarmonic State Orchestra
130 Min.
54 dancers
Christmas Oratorio I-VI (2013)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Philarmonic State Orchestra
Chor der Hamburgischen Staatsoper
170 Min.
41 dancers
The Nutcracker (1974)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music : P. I. Tschaikowsky
Philarmonic State Orchestra
125 Min.
48 dancers
Third Symphony of Gustav Maler(1975)
Music: G. Maler
Choreography: John Neumeier
120 Min.
47 dancers
Tatjana (2014)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: Lera Auerbach
Philarmonic State Orchestra
155 Min.
54 dancers
Duse (2015)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: B. Britten, A. Pärt
Philarmonic State Orchestra
140 Min.
43 dancers
Saint Matthew Passion (1981)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: J. S. Bach
215 Min.
41 dancers
Giselle (2003)
Traditional choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa
Inszenierung, new choreography: John Neumeier
music: A. Adam
Hamburger Symphony Orchestra
125 Min.
54 dancers
Peer Gynt (1989)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: A. Schnittke
Philarmonic State Orchestra
155 Min.
52 dancers
Othello (1985)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: A. Pärt, A. Schnittke, N. Vasconcelos u.a
Hamburger Symphony Orchestra
140 Min.
32 dancers
The Little Mermaid (2007)
Choreography: John Neumeier
music: L. Auerbach
Philarmonic State Orchestra
ca. 125 Min.
43 dancers
A Cinderella Story (1992)
Choreography: John Neumeier
Music: S. Prokofjew
Philarmonic State Orchestra
140 Min.
46 dancers
Productions from the 2015/2016 season
Duse (2015)
Music: Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt
Choreography: John Neumeier
Turangalîla - Premiere (2016)
Music: Olivier Messiaen
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
A Cinderella Story – Wiederaufnahme (1992)
Music: Sergej Prokofjew
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
165 Min.
Dancers: 46
Matthäus Passion – Wiederaufnahme (1981)
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: John Neumeier
240 Min.
Peer Gynt (1989)
Music: Alfred Schnittke
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
180 Min.
Dancers: 52
Liliom (2011)
Music: Michel Legrand
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
165 Min.
Dancers: 54
Der Nussknacker (1974)
Music : Peter I. Tschaikowsky
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
150 Min.
Dancers: 48
Weihnachtsoratorium I-VI (2013)
Music: Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
195 Min.
Dancers: 41
Winterreise (2001)
Music: Hans Zender – „Schuberts Winterreise“
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
105 Min.
Dancers: 35
Giselle (2003)
Music: Adolphe Adam
Traditional Choreography: Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot,
Marius Petipa
New Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
150 Min.
Dancers: 54
Messias (1999)
Music: Georg Friedrich Händel, Arvo Pärt
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
150 Min.
Dancers: 40
Shakespeare Dances (2013)
Wie es Euch gefällt | Hamlet | VIVALDI oder Was ihr wollt
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Tippett, Antonio Vivaldi
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
225 Min.
Dancers: 55
Othello (1985)
Music: Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke, Naná Vasconcelos u.a
Choreography: John Neumeier
Hamburger Synphonieorchester
135 Min.
Dancers: 32
Romeo und Julia (1974)
Music: Sergej Prokofjew
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
180 Min.
Dancers: 54
Tatjana (2014)
Music: Lera Auerbach
Choreography: John Neumeier
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
180 Min.
Dancers: 54
Napoli (2014)
Music: Edvard Mads Ebbe Helsted,
Holger Simon Paulli, Niels Wilhelm Gade, Hans Christian Lumbye
Traditional Choreography: August Bournonville
New Choreography: Lloyd Riggins
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester
165 Min.
Dancers: 52
Productions of the 2014/2015 season
Peer Gynt (2015)
New Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Alfred Schnittke
Performers: n. a., Philharmoniker Hamburg, length n. a
Napoli (2014)
Choreography: August Bournonville (traditional Choreography), Lloyd Riggins (new Choreography), Music: Edvard Mads Ebbe Helsted, Holger Simon Paulli, Niels Wilhelm Gade, Hans Christian Lumbye
Performers n. a., Philharmoniker Hamburg, length n. a
Tatjana (2014)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Lera Auerbach,
54 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 150 min
WEIHNACHTSORATORIUM I-VI (2013)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: J. S. Bach
41 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, choir, ca. 170 min
Shakespeare Dances (2013)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: W. A. Mozart, Michael Tippett, A. Vivaldi
55 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 175 min
Onegin (2012)
Choreography: John Cranko, music: P. I. Tschaikowsky
41 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 95 min
Liliom (2011)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Michel Legrand
54 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, in cooperation with the NDR Bigband, ca. 140 min
Die kleine Meerjungfrau (2007)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Lera Auerbach
43 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 125 min
Tod in Venedig (2003)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: J. S. Bach, R. Wagner
46 performers, ca. 125 min
Giselle (2003)
new Choreography: John Neumeier, music: Adolphe Adam, Friedrich Burgmüller
54 performers, ca. 125 min
Préludes CV (2003)
Choreography: John Neumeier, music: Lera Auerbach
42 performers, ca. 125 min
Winterreise (2001)
Choreography: John Neumeier, music: Hans Zender, F. Schubert
35 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 105 min
Messias (1999)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: G. F. Händel, Arvo Pärt
40 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 125 min
Othello (1985)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke, Naná Vasconcelos u. a.
32 performers, Hamburger Symphoniker, ca. 140 min
Der Nussknacker (1974)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: P. I. Tschaikowsky
48 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 125 min
Romeo und Julia (1974)
Choreography: John Neumeier, Music: Sergej Prokofjew
54 performers, Philharmoniker Hamburg, ca. 130 min
Adagio
Trailer
The thing with feathers
Trailer
The Times Are Racing
Trailer
Variations For Two Couples
Trailer
Hamburg Ballett
Ballettzentrum – John Neumeier
Caspar-Voght-Straße 54 | 20535 Hamburg
Tel +49 (0)40 3568 916 | +49 (0)40 3568 917
presse@hamburgballett.de
